Used primarily after sustaining massive injury or as a means to elude a seemingly inescapable attack, this technique allows the user to materialise a new body — typically by regurgitating it from their mouth — in a manner that somewhat resembles how a snake sheds its skin.[2] After emerging, the user's clothing and injuries are completely restored, with even amputated limbs being regenerated. Whilst the technique has the additional advantage of potentially being extremely difficult to detect, its use consumes a great amount of chakra.[1]

When used by Kabuto Yakushi who showed a more versatile use of this technique, he was able to shed his human form to reveal a humanoid-like form complete with a serpentine body.[3] He later appeared with a similar serpentine body with what appeared to be smaller limbs.[4] He would later use this technique to shed his body during battle as a means of taking his opponent by surprise.[5]

Trivia

The technique and its nature of normally negating near-fatal injuries play with the cultural symbolism of snakes as symbols of immortality and rebirth via the shedding of their skin.